Sheet-metal can or box.



Patented Dot; 30, |900.

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GEORGE MILLER, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SHEET`METAL CAN OR` BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming` part of Letters Patent No. 660,730, dated October 30, 1900;

Application filed .Tune 8, 1900.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal Cans or Boxes 5 and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and` exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sheet-metal cans or boxes; and it is particularly applicable to cylindrical Vessels of this class, such as the cans usually used for packing hermeticallysealed goods or boxes, with removable lids for the reception of powders and like merchandise.

One object of the invention is to generally improve the construction of such vessels, and especially to provide vessels of this general class of such construction that when closed there shall be no laterally-projecting beads, whereby the vessels may be more closely packed, less liable to wear, and more readily labeled.

A further object is to provide speciallyimproved constructions of end joints and removable covers.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, hereinafter fully described and afterward specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View in side elevation of a sheet-metal box with a removable lid constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom end elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section through the construction shown in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 4. is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the seam or joint between the ends or head and the side or body of the vessel.

Like letters of reference indicate like and corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A indicates the body of the vessel, preferably cylindrical, but which may be of other shape, if desired. This cylindrical body may be of a single piece of metal, like the section of a tube, or may be formed into cylindrical shape by bending and side-seaming a sheet of metal serial No. 19.580. (No model.)

in the usual manner of manufacturing tin cans.

B indicates the bottom or lower head, which is joined to the body A by a seam C, Fig. 3. (Shown in detail in Fig. 4t.) This seam is formed in any approved manner by suitable sheet-metalworking machinery and when completed comprises a horizontal ring or in-V wardly-projecting iiange D at the end of the body A, the inner edge of which is turned upward at E and back outward, forming a parallel annular fiange F. The head or end Bis formed into an annular flange Gat rightangles to the bottom and parallel with the side A, a horizontal annular iiange H extending outwardly from the edge of the flange G, a vertical bend or flange I lying against the inner surface of the side A, and a horizontal annular flange J resting between the horizontal flanges D and F of the body, as before described.

When the seam is finished, it will be observed 4 that the outer surface of the body A is plain and unbroken from top to bottom, and the outer surface of the head or end B is flush with the bottom of the side or body A, the annular flange D of the body A being in the same plane and affording a smooth firm foundation upon which to stand the vessel, the capacity of the vessel being somewhat increased in comparison with the capacity ofa similarlyshaped vessel of the same dimensions, but in which a bead is provided projecting below the bottom head. While I have illustrated this seam for joining the head and body as applied to the bottom of the vessel, it will be readily understood that it may be applied to either or both heads.

` K indicates the removable cover or top, which is provided with an annular liange L at right angles to and extending from its periphery. This flange, as usual, is intended to fit over the upper edge of the main body A of the box or vessel. In boxes of this character as heretofore made it has been usual to provide an outwardly-extending annular bead in the body itself and to provide the lid with a plain ange, the object of the bead being to form a stop to prevent the flange L of the cover from being pressed too far down upon the body in closing the box. In order that there may be no projecting bead upon the main bo'dy of my box, I provide an inwardly- IOO projecting .beadM in the cover, so -that whzen the lid =is :ttedion the boxzsai'd bead Mzvvill act as a stop to prevent the lid from being pressed too far upon the body.

By means of my improved seam or joint, as heretofore described, Aand .my improved lidI` am enabled to provide a 'boXWith'a remov-v able lid in which the only projection beyond the surface of the main bodyiis the single thickness of the metal composing the lidlange L.

While I have illustrated-.fand described A.my improved lid as applied to a vessel constructi ed with my improved seam or join't,'it Will'be obvious that this lid may be applied to vessels otherwise constructed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claim ed las neW, vand sdesired -to be 'secured by Letters Patent, .is V

1. A'metal can or boxi'cern prisngfsidewalls forming'a -bodyportionhavin g its'edge iatfone end 'turned'inwardlyto .form a supporting# shelf for fthe head 'orend-of 'the/can, an :up' Wardly and inwardly extending hook yportion formed on the inner edgezof the said-su-pportingshelf,1a head for-cover adapted =t0 be su'pported on saidiir-Wardly-tu'rnedshelf and lhavin'g at its edfgeanupvvardlyextending shoul deredportion adapted'to yft inthefop'eningeft by -the -inturned-edgefatfthe end ofthe can,-t'he l mainbodyportionoi safidhea'dlyifng lufshw'iith theinturuedfsupportingedgeioffthecarnlbody, l and-'anoutwardlyihorizontallyfextended*hook portionfform'ed on the said head adapted-to-eni gagelthehookportionfformedon.the'inwardlyeXtendingfsh'elfof the body, .thestructure be-l ing such that the head is strongly held in place upon the inwardly-extending edge of the canbody, substantially as described.

2. A metahcan orbexfhavin g a body portion formed o'f suitable'walls, an inwardly-extending shelf formed at one end of said body l:pontionzffor supporting the headof the can,

ed to res'ton .top of the hook `formed on the the structurebe'in-g sutih that "internal strain does not come directlyupo'n theihooks vebut is ,largelylsupporte'd bythe sai-id 'shelf 'on the vb'ody'p'ortion-'andit'he up Ward lyand'outwardly iextendin'g .''anges of the head, substantially as described.

In ltestimony"whereof fIhe-reun'to 'affix my signature in presence oftwo'witnesses.

A GEORGE MULLER.

Witnesses HARRY fCRAvER, EDGAR HAMILTON. 

